Undergarment



July 27 1926.

P. cfRoDwELl.

UNDERGARMBNT Filed 1190.22. 1925 ll lll ll ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patente-d July 27',Y 1.1526.k

UNITED STATES PnRcY c. RODWELL, oroRANeEBUnsonrH CAROLINA.

ly y UNDERGARMENT. y

application filed necemberee, 1a25.'j semi 77h74,

vThis invention relates to vimprovements. inA

undergarments and `has for an object the provision of means for reinforcingthe elastic connecting band commonly' found in atlileticy union suits, the purpose being yto strengthen andreinforce the garment with, out interfering y with freedom of movement.

' .lVith the above andother objects in view,` `the invention provides a novel arrangement of reinforcing vstrips which act` to gradually resist stretching, resistance of the strips increasing 'with increased stretching action off the wearer, 'so that stretching will not be suddenly checked, but will be checked gradually'and danger of injury tothe garment--v will be materially reduced. i

Another object ofthe invention is to 'so dispose thereinforcing strips as to distributel the strain overa relatively'largearea and further t0 provide direct resistance to lateralstrains. Y l y lVith the above and other objects in view, 4the inventionv further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated `in the accompanying drawings and pointcdout in the appended claim. Y

In the drawingspi e Figure-1 is a perspective view of a garment with the invention included.

FigureQ is an enlarged fragmentary elevation'V showing the arrangement ofthe; reinforcing strips. l' Y Y f Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote correspondingparts, the garment which is of the type commonly referred `to as an athletic unionsuityincludes an upper o'rbody -portion l() and a lower or vnether portion ll.,

the said portions being connectedby a strip 12er suitable elastic material, the wales of 'the strip extendingv longitudinally thereoj, or transversely of the garment.' v

\ The invention comprises reinrorcing strips ,13 which are also formed offsuitable elastic` material and which have their wales extending longitudinally.v The strips 13 are crossed so as to form the letter Xiand are connected at their crossed portions as indicated at 14h vvThe v opposite ends of the strips are ,suitably ly fallv connected to the adjacentedges I'1.5. of the *upper an-d'lower vportions 10 and llofythe garment.

By reference to Figure 2 ofthe drawings Tit will be seen that the wales of the rein-,-

icing 'strips lextendjdiagonally of the the latt rfis stretched, strainiwillrbe transferredffrom the lstrips 13, these strips, due their arra'ngement 'andV disposition, will v,gradually taire up the strain'V and resist-sep- 'wales y'of the connecting ystrip l2'jand when;l

arating ,movement betweenpthe` adjacent 'i edges of the upper and low'enportions ofthe garment. This gradual checking action will `act 'to mii'iimize the danger of tearing yor sepamic-ing,y the connected portions `of the f. garment and is in vcont'iT-distinction to the, vsudden stopping.. actionI wherei reinforcing strips are arranged at right angles tothe waistline. I Further, the arrangement ofthef` 'strips providesufor a gradual checking of the stretching actionof the connecting strip when this `actionis occasioned byA sidewise `movement of, the body ofthe weareiys'or movement. ofv only one shoulder.l

,f The invention is susceptible of various changes in lits form', proportionsand minor details of construction andthe right is herein reserved. to 4makey such v'c'hanges Aas v proper-e` within the scope of the appended claim. 1' f" Havingidescribedthe invention lwhat is claimed is lnvcombinationl with aky garment linclud-y i 'ing upper and lower members and an elastic strip', connecting said members, said strip having its wales "extending vsubstantially vparallel with the ,adjacent edgesjof the upper .and lower members,` diagonally "disposed crossed reinforcing st'ripshaving .their opposite 'ends secured to the adjacent edges of ysaid upper and lower members and their wales lextending longitudinally with? respect posed with respect to the r wales 'of theelastic connectingstrip with the crossed portions of said reinf-orcing'strips ksecured together.

' In testimony whereof I 'ifiix my signature.

` Jenaery c. vRoDwEnL.

to said diagonal strips anddiagonally d is-` 111,. 

